Klis, I have been a Broncos fan for close to 30 years, mind you from a great distance. I was wondering if you could give me some insight into Peyton Manning’s transition. When, if ever, do you think Peyton will become more than just a former-Colt playing for the Broncos, and become a Bronco? I thought the San Diego game might have helped in this transformation. But from interviews, Peyton still seems like a mercenary on this team.

–Tom, Eden, N.Y.

Some people will always have a perception that Manning is a hired gun. I think Manning has done quite a bit to change that perception. He bought a home here — no minor investment considering he and wife Ashley have twins who are a little more than 18 months old. And Peyton also just bought 21 Papa John’s Pizza franchises in the Denver area.

More importantly, Manning has given rabid, Super Bowl-starved Broncomaniacs hope their team can go all the way.

Still, perceptions change only through time. And success. The great Reggie White played eight years in Philly and didn’t join Green Bay until he was 32 and I consider him primarily a Packer. Left tackle Gary Zimmerman played more years with the Vikings (7) than the Broncos (5). And he went into the Hall of Fame as a Broncos player.

If Manning plays five years with the Broncos and wins one or two Super Bowls? He’ll go up in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame, put it that way.

Mike, during the Sunday Night game against the Saints, after the Broncos scored a touchdown, Peyton Manning was lecturing the offensive line. What was he talking about? And why wasn’t the O-Line coach doing the critique instead of Peyton? Everyone seemed to be in rapt attention, including the receivers. Whatever he was telling them, I sure hope Brock Osweiler was paying attention.

–Andy, Nashville

The offensive line coach, Dave Magazu, was standing next to Manning as the quarterback was speaking. It didn’t appear to me that Manning was lecturing so much as advising teammates on what the Saints’ defense was doing and how he planned on attacking next.

Manning was complimentary, not critical, of his offensive line play Sunday night. He had a day-and-a-half to throw the ball even without the play-action fake. And Willis McGahee (122), Ronnie Hillman (86) and Lance Ball (14) combined for 222 rushing yards.

When Manning used the play-action, he had 2 1/2 days to spot Demaryius Thomas open downfield for gains of 41 and 34 yards. When Manning threw screens to Thomas and Virgil Green, left tackle Ryan Clady and left guard Zane Beadles were like dancing bears with the way they moved downfield and threw blocks.

When the Saints made defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley a healthy scratch, they tipped their hand. The Broncos knew the Saints’ plan was to stop the pass and play a lot of nickel. Besides the Saints’ soft box, Jonathan Vilma looked lost as a weakside linebacker. The Broncos rolled over the Saints on the ground, and then Manning popped the pass.

With the great play of Chris Harris and Tony Carter, will Tracy Porter have a starting job when he gets healthy?

–Jake, Texas

Many people have asked this question. Let’s get Porter figured out first. He’s been completely healthy for more than a week now — and the medical experts still haven’t cleared him. Maybe this week.

The first week Porter is cleared, Harris and Carter probably play ahead of him. Porter has now missed enough time that it would take him at least a full week of practice to get back in playing shape. After that, my guess is all three of them will play.

With Peyton Manning on offense, the Colts and Broncos defenses were and are built to play with a lead. For this Broncos team to reach the heights, they have to turn Manning loose earlier in games. Then Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil can dominate. Manning epitomizes Sun Tzu: “Every battle is won before it is fought.”

–Tess Malone, Princeton, N.J.

Tess, the ancient Chinese military general you quoted was dead on. I prefer to get my pearls of wisdom from Kill Bill movies (“I must warn you young lady, I am susceptible to flattery”) and The Bible (“It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home.” Proverbs 25:24).

I appreciate last week’s Indy writer who encourages us not to be worried at halftime when the Broncos are behind, since we have Manning. I’m not worried about Manning as much as I am about our offense in general. Last year with Tim Tebow it seemed that we always had to fight for a comeback. My logic said that Tebow wasn’t good enough. Now, with one of the all-time great quarterbacks in Manning, the Broncos shouldn’t be playing second-half ball. This is a disturbing trend (New Orleans game notwithstanding). We’re always coming back after the half, with Tebow and now with Manning. What’s up with that? Is this a coaching issue?

–Kevin Lecy, San Francisco

I think the biggest reason why the Broncos fell behind big in four of their first six games this season was because they weren’t yet a very good team. It takes a while to sort things out. Keith Brooking added stability to the defense and Tony Carter added playmaking ability. Neither was a factor early. On offense, it was a matter of Manning getting comfortable with his new teammates and the teammates getting comfortable with their new quarterback.

Sometimes, a player will zig when the quarterback wants him to zag. That happens with unfamiliarity. Those kind of mistakes are difficult to overcome against the likes of the 7-0 Atlanta Falcons, 6-1 Houston Texans and 5-3 Patriots. Manning and the boys are becoming increasingly familiar.

I don’t believe the problem was ever preparation, Kevin, because I can’t imagine any team coming out more prepared than a Peyton Manning team. The good thing that came out of all those three-touchdown deficits is the Broncos learned they have a quarterback who is capable of rallying.

With all the problems the Broncos have with covering the tight ends, how hard would it be to convert or teach another tight end to play defense? That way, by covering other tight ends, they would have the bulk and the speed to match on defense. If you are a true player, you would do anything to get on the field, offense or defense.

–Abe Arellano, Utah

What are you, Bill Belichick? He uses receivers as defensive backs. Generally speaking, though, outside linebackers and safeties are far more nimble afoot than the tight ends they cover. The defensive player must react to the offensive player’s action. It takes more of a certain type of athleticism to play defense.

But in basketball, they match up power forwards not with shooting guards but with power forwards. So your idea has merit, Abe.

Last year, Rahim Moore looked lost, taking bad angles and missing tackles. This year he looks like a different player. Is this just the natural growth of a player, first year to second? Or did having an offseason to train help him? Or something else? I’m interested to hear what you think of Mr. Moore’s play so far.

–Tim, Whittier, Calif.

I love it when you mailbaggers answer your own questions while in the midst of asking. Most of Moore’s improvement, Tim, can be attributed to — and I’m quoting you, here — “the natural growth of a player, first year to second.” Better angles lead to better tackling. Angles are an innate skill and technique that can only be learned through experiencing the speed of the game.

Besides professional techniques, though, I also think Moore is more mature. He’s a gregarious, highly intelligent guy who was humbled last year. I think the toughest adjustment for all rookies is dealing with the transition from Big Man on College Campus to little man in the NFL locker room.

Moore worked extremely hard during the offseason and training camp to improve. That hard work has earned him respect among his veteran teammates, not to mention the coaches who determine playing time.

The Broncos now have Pro Bowlers (and two Hall of Famers) at the four most important positions (QB, LT, DE, CB), plus Demaryius Thomas at WR and Von Miller out OLB. Looks like a complete foundation. But it badly needs a great MLB to pick up the old tradition of Randy Gradishar, Karl Mecklenberg and Al Wilson. Your thoughts?

–Craig Irvine, Singapore

An insightful observation. Keith Brooking ain’t bad. Granted, picking up a 36-year-old middle linebacker from free agency who mostly played weakside linebacker in his career isn’t ideal. In the Broncos’ big picture, Brooking is a temporary fix.

But the Broncos aren’t a team built for the future. They’re built to win now. Nate Irving, the team’s third-round pick in 2011, could still develop into the kind of middle linebacker you seek, Craig.

But allow me to add the importance of the middle linebacker position has been somewhat mitigated in recent years by all the pass-coverage packages. I don’t know how Gradishar would have fared, but the great Dick Butkus, who had shoddy knees, might have been a two-down linebacker if he were playing today.

Is there any reason David Bruton isn’t a voting option for the special teams Pro Bowl position? The Broncos have nobody nominated in that category, but Bruton’s almost always first to the ball downfield, and has a block and several near-blocks on punts this season. How can he not be nominated when 19 other NFL players are?

You’re right, Bruton deserves strong consideration. I know head coach John Fox and special teams coaches Jeff Rodgers and Keith Burns consider Bruton one of the best, if not the best, special teams mismatches in the league because of his speed, athleticism and guile. He’s often the first guy down field and is a consistent punt-block threat.

Pro Bowl voting is one-third players, one-third coaches and one-third fans. So have at it, Dave.

Pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag. Listen to Mike Klis on “Klis’ Korner” at 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday as well as 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday on 102.3 FM ESPN.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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